Opportunity type: Short-term Commitment
Role: Outdoor and Practical including Animals and Environment
District: Westhoughton North & Chew Moor
Time of day: Weekday Afternoons, Weekend Full Days, Weekend Half Days, Casual or Intermittent
Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access? No
Location: Outdoor
Description: We are excited to begin a brand new venture where we wish to work with volunteers will use the to improve a piece of unused and derelict waste land (with permission from Bolton Council) next to The Gates Primary School into an accessible Garden Space for our whole community to use throughout the year to improve health, wellbeing and come together. Our town has seen and is undergoing much redevelopment and green spaces and their benefits to health are disappearing. We want to improve the area with a team of community volunteers in order to provide health, wellbeing and gardening workshops and access to a space for children with SEND, Green Therapy, Bolton Family Hub to use for outdoor sessions and our local Scout Group to utilise- this is just to start with. There are other potential uses for the space as no other public green spaces in this area and there is much demand for more access to support better wellbeing particularly for those affected by the cost-of-living crisis and impacted by mental health. Activities will be open to all in our community and include: planning, designing and developing the space together, conservation and nature workshops, volunteering, wellbeing, mindful sessions and gardening workshops. We will work with volunteers to make the area more accessible, clearing and creating paths and spaces whilst supporting the natural habitat and improving it. We will host a celebration event to launch and to evaluate impact. Our project will build strong relationships and connections between groups in our community including children, volunteers, SEN groups, older people and young families. We aim to improve the wellbeing and future health by providing more equitable access to green spaces and working together as a community to improve the area. Volunteers will be pivotal to this project and have the opportunity to give back to the community, to develop their skills, learn more about sustainability and the benefits of working in with nature to support mental and physical health and wellbeing. This project aims to bring the local community together and build strong relationships through community groups working together and groups from across Bolton- it’s scope is far-reaching and has the potential to develop further year on year. This project has the potential for different groups to engage them at an early stage, develop new skills, reach their potential and develop a sense of community belongingness. Can you help us on our journey? Can you give time to the school and local community? Can you help to make an impact and a community space for all to access? Can you help support local sustainability and a love of engaging with the local environment?
Requirements: Will require a criminal record check (DBS)
Email: office@thegates.bolton.sch.uk
Phone: 01942634734
